Saint Julian Press

Elizabeth Cohen ~ Poet

 

 

THE BOOK OF SPARROW

                                             ~ for Julie

 

In the beginning there was the sparrow

and sparrow light was tossed over the water

and that became dawn

and sparrow shadow flew over the garden

and this was the beginning of dusk

and sparrow flew all around the world

and this created night and day

 

Sparrow lit upon a pinnacle of rock

and the humans began to burn oil

Sparrow slept in trees
and there was the invention of paper

 

Soon after arrived the development

of genetically altered wheat

and invasions of displaced species

Valleys were burning

the oceans became confused

 

Sparrow lifted up on eddies of wind

and rested on the edge of the landfill

where worms were plentiful

Famines and wars and droughts and pestilence

appeared and vanished

and the seasons became weary

and forgot to show up one year

 

Sparrow opened its wings above

to pull across the blankets of dawn and dusk

and carried a raft of stars on its back

 

The glaciers were melting by this time

and pods of whales were throwing themselves

upon the shores, with great exertion

There was a Perseid shower of sparrows

some nights, and mornings, a whirling

a sparrow tornado that rose up above the slag

battered the cities and claimed the atmosphere wholly

 

And sparrow wrote in sparrow hieroglyphics

upon the final days

a sparrow prayer

 

 

ELIZABETH COHEN © 2016